Details of what's in this month's issue, including SynthMaker CM, 2007 royalty-free samples and the essential guide to the laptop studio.

ON THE DVD • Outsim SynthMaker CM free on the DVD!Only on this month's Computer Music DVD, SynthMaker CM enables you to build your own plug-in and standalone instruments and effects. Hundreds of modules are included, and patching them together is child's play, thanks to the software's intuitive graphical editor and the accompanying tutorial in the magazine.

• Chris Lake Producer Masterclass videoBootlegger turned Top 40 chart botherer Chris Lake spills the beans on how he creates his own distinctive brand of house. Using Ableton Live, Chris walks us through the production of a complete track, delivering plenty of universally applicable tips on the way.

IN THE MAG • Laptop musicianGet more from your laptop with our in-depth guide to making music on the move. From recording bands to laptop jams, we show you what you need and how to use it.

• Remix Future Loop Foundation and appear on their next album!Fancy appearing alongside the likes of Ashley Beadle, Go Team, Pete Lawrence and Tunng on Future Loop Foundation's forthcoming remix album? One lucky CM reader will be doing exactly that by remixing the FLF track The Sea And The Sky in our exclusive competition. It could be you…

• The CM Guide to hardcore breaksHardcore is back and more bangin' than ever. We talk to some of the scene's prime movers and impart some invaluable breakbeat programming and editing knowledge.

• Layering guitarsAs any rock producer will tell you, two guitars and better than one – but why stop there? Multi-guitar orchestration, double-tracking, harmony-stacking, mixing and keeping your layered projects under control are all covered in our essential guide to piling on the axes.

• Into the redDigital clipping of audio signals is generally seen as 'a bad thing', but that doesn't mean it can't be useful. Turn those ear-shredding sonic accidents into musical gold with our noise-ridden walkthrough overload!